Numerous complaints from Midland Senior Center members and former members have prompted the city of Midland to plan a meeting with management officials, but one of the officials said the complainants are a vocal minority taking things out of proportion.

In several letters the Reporter-Telegram received, the complainants have several grievances that range from membership bans to faulty equipment and the lack of repairs.

But the most consistent complaint from those speaking out is the management by Jody Sneed, Community and Senior Services executive director, and Linda Jackson, Midland Senior Center director.

“There are all kind of management styles, but theirs is ‘keep everybody in the dark,’” said Carol Barrett, a former senior center member who was banned from membership on May 17.

Barrett told the Reporter-Telegram on Friday that one month before she was banned, she was having a “pleasant” conversation with a CSS board member about problems at the senior center. She told the board member that the seniors were being “bullied” and “intimidated” by staff.

It was that conversation that prompted her ban, Barrett said, adding that someone accused her of accosting the board member. Barrett admitted that she does not know exactly why she was banned but wants a written explanation from Sneed that she has yet to receive.

“It all has to do with control,” Barrett said. “They think we’re old and senile. They couldn’t control me, so they banned me.”

Sneed confirmed that several individuals were suspended from the senior center but can’t elaborate on each situation, including Barrett’s, because of confidentiality issues.

Sneed also talked about how the complainants are a small group that is trying to overtake how the center is run. He described the individuals as “assertive personality” types that complain to others if they are not given what they want.

“We deal with 2,000 clients a day,” Sneed said. “These five or six individuals are ‘sour grapes.’ In the 20 years CSS has operated the center, we’ve had some complaints but no actions were taken.”

But the complainants expressed that Sneed and Jackson are the ones trying to gain more control over the center by shutting down the center’s advisory board. The advisory board took some action, including voting when large purchases were made, but Sneed said they tried to go beyond advisory duties.

Sneed said the advisory board attempted to write their own bylaws, adding that they are not the governing board of the center.

“Who really benefits from all this conflict?” Sneed said. “Is it all the seniors at the center, or just a few individuals?”

The city of Midland annually gives $300,000 to CSS for both the Midland Senior Center and Southeast Senior Center for operational expenses such as vehicle maintenance and supplies. City officials plan to meet with Sneed on Wednesday. City Manager Courtney Sharp said the city will hear both sides of the story and try to address the needs of everybody, and to see if there is any room for improvements.

A possible outcome of the Wednesday meeting could be cutting off city funding for the center. But District 4 Councilman Michael Trost, who has spoken to the banned former members, said it’s not a smart solution because it could also impact Meals on Wheels, another program CSS operates. He added that revamping and reorganizing is also a consideration.